Mixed-up Mash-up Book Review

Can you relate? I possibly have an unhealthy need to be surrounded by books.

I may be a book-a-holic. My collection centers explicitly around Christian books and the newest translations of the Bible, and thanks to Amazon, it grows a little every week.

I have collected books on just about every subject Christian related. There are multiple books by my favorite authors and some books I read numerous times. Some of the books on my shelves help me understand scripture and apply doctrine to my life, and one entire shelf strains to hold all my books on how to be a better writer. I hope they did their job.

So, I'm writing today because I want to share some of the books that have arrived lately. This review of these recent arrivals is a mixed-up mash-up group of books. They include a book to remind you of what is true about you, a book to help you with your adult children, a book to show you how to lose your ill-fitting roles and live your one life, and a new illustrated Bible for your children. Something for just about everyone.

The first book is by bestselling author, licensed counselor, certified life coach, international speaker, and member of one of my favorite podcasts, Holley Gerth. Her book, What's True About You: Life-changing Reminders of Who God Says You Are, released in March of this year and is a beautifully illustrated gift book filled with scripture and over fifty reminders of what's true about all of us. Reminders like, "you are more than your hard days," and "you really are forgiven" include a short commentary on why it matters for you.

This book is designed as a gift book and meant to be given away, although I want to keep it for myself. I recommend this book for your niece or granddaughter, or your sister and neighbor as a gift for birthdays and special days or just when they need encouragement. Instead of eating ice cream and chocolate on days when we feel like we are not enough, turn a page or two instead. For those of us who often forget how God sees us, this is a book we should memorize.

Check out the "More Than Small Talk" podcast HERE. New conversations are posted every Thursday when Holley joins her friends who are also authors, Suzie Eller, and Jennifer Watson. It's always worth a listen. Also, check out Holley's blog and website HERE.

The first chapter title makes me laugh. In the first chapter, "You're Fired," the author, Jim Burns, says, "...we didn't see the changes coming." Glad to know it wasn't just me.

This book is filled with practical advice and covers every topic I didn't think I would need to know concerning living with and among my adult children. The book includes prayers, advice from respected Christian parent experts such as Charles Swindoll and is chocked full of practical action steps and information for getting it right most of the time. When you think you have made a mess of the new relationship with your adult kids, Dr. Burns says, "Your attitude, lifestyle, values, faith, and example impact your kids in ways you may never fully know." So, don't worry too much. The training they received before they grew up makes a difference. And that's a good thing.

I wish this book would have been around when my first son married and moved away. Oh well, there is still hope. The book is published by Zondervan and can be found at your favorite bookstore or on Amazon.

Do you ever feel like you say "yes" to everything you are asked to do? Do you try to be all things to all people? Do you make decisions that benefit everyone else because you feel as if you have to? If you answered "Amen" to either question or if you thought about your answer for a moment, then Exhale: Lose Who You're Not, Love Who You Are and Live Your One Life Well, by Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory, is the book for you.

As the cover states, "This isn't a time-management book." This book is about how to let go of what you are not and grab hold of who you are so you can live abundantly. For example, you are not responsible for the world, your past does not define you, and you are not the fixer of all things. These are a few of the topics covered in the book's first section and isn't this information great to know?

In the next section, the authors show you how to love who you are and then, in the last section, learn how to live your one life well. This book is not the usual "say no to good and yes to the best" book. It's about letting go of the stuff that is suffocating your life and start loving who you truly are.

You can find out more about the author, speaker, and speaking coach, Amy Carroll, on her website HERE. She joins her co-author, Cheri Gregory, on their podcast, Grit' n' Grace and you can listen HERE.

Lastly, when I was a kid (a long time ago), I did not own a Bible. At church, my grandmother shared with me the Bible that lay on her lap. My first Bible was given to me when I graduated high school. There were no Bibles designed for kids, and that's why I'm so glad to introduce this new kids Bible to you.

I am a member of the Bible Gateway Bloggers Grid, so when Bible Gateway sent me a free copy of a new Bible for kids, I had to share. The NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kidsis the latest Bible designed for kids and has so many great features. It's for ages 4-8, single column, written in the easier to read New International Reader's Version translation, and has over 750 illustrations and comes with a two-sided Bible Story Map poster tucked in the cover. I believe it's well worth the nearly $30 price tag. This Bible is excellent for children who want to read the Bible on their own or with a little help from their parents, and it's an excellent first full-text Bible for kids.

If you are not familiar with the NIrV translation, it's a version stemming from the New International Version from 1994. Longer words and phrases have been replaced with easier to read simple language. The NIrV is a thought-for-thought translation instead of a word-for-word translation.

My only difficulty with this Bible is the lack of chapter and verse numbers. It reads more like a book than the Bible, which may appeal to kids, but wonder how they would learn how to find chapter and verse references. But if you need a first-Bible gift for an elementary student, this should be your choice.

These are the most recent additions to my bookshelves, and I should have a new stack next month. In the meantime, what books do you recommend, old or new? What books are you reading? I'm always looking for a new addition.

(Just so you know, I am an Amazon Affiliate and receive a tiny bit of compensation when you buy directly from my site. It's doesn't cost you extra, it just helps with my costs. Check out the Disclaimer HERE.)